A case of a leukaemia sufferer in the UK has drawn attention to Australian laws which prevent gay and bisexual males from donating bone marrow to those in need.
24-year-old Lara Casalotti was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukaemia last year, and was informed she will need a bone marrow transplant by April 2016 to survive.
Casalotti’s combination of Thai, Chinese and Italian heritage has made it particuarly complicated for her to find a suitable match, as matching types are an inherited trait. Ms Casalotti’s family took to the internet with a campaign, ‘Match4Lara‘, to try and find an eligible donor.
An Australian man of Chinese, Danish and Italian roots told SBS that he was disappointed to discover he was unable to register to assist Ms Casalotti, as Australian law restricts donations from men who have sex with men – much the same as Australia’s blood donation laws.
Greens LGBTI spokesperson Senator Robert Simms has urged the TGA to review the restrictions imposed on gay and bisexual men.
“Last year I wrote to the Human Rights Commissioner, Tim Wilson regarding restrictions imposed on men who have sex with men donating blood and asking him to investigate the matter,” Senator Simms said.
“I think many Australians would be shocked to discover that these restrictions also apply to bone marrow. Bone marrow donors are very hard to find and the case of Ms Lara Casalotti highlights the impact of these kind of restrictions can have.”
Senator Simms says that in this life and death case, it is absurd to reject a prospective donor purely based on their sexual orientation.
“Given restrictions on gay men donating bone marrow have been lifted in Canada, the UK and US, one has to wonder why Australia is the odd one out,” Senator Simms continues.
“With changed in technology and HIV testing, it really is time for the TGA to review the restrictions imposed on gay men donating blood and marrow. Restrictions should be based on the evidence, not discrimination.”
OIP Staff
